Sheet shearing and flanging machine



April 12, 1949.

Filed June 26, 1946 H. R. HARBORD SHEET SHEARING AND FLANGING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. HORACE R HA EBORD ATTORNEYS Aprifi 12,1949. H. R. HARBORD SHEET SHEARING AND FLANGING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 26, 1946 ION m In N I INVENTOR.

HORACE R. HARBORD ATTORNEYS Aprii 12, 1949. H. R. HARBORD SHEET SHEARING AND FLANGING MACHINE 5 SheetsSheet 3 Filed June 26, 1946 INVENTOR. RACE R. HA KBOKD ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 12, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 26 Claims.

The present invention concerns a machine whereby a metal sheet or plate can be sheared to correct size, and subsequently flanged.

While machines are known which attempt to shear and flange a sheet simultaneously, these are subject to certain limitations and objections which are avoided by the present machine, and by sequential operation. Flanging displaces ma terial from the plane of the sheet and decreases the peripheral extent of the marginal edge; the material must flow within the flange, or it wrinkles, and in order to flow, and to decrease its marginal extent, the margin must be free. Since the margin is only freed, in such prior machines, while the flanging is in progress, it follows that it has not the necessary freedom during the flanging operation. Moreover, flanging should not be done in a single pass through the flanging rolls, but progressively, and requires more extended relative movement of the dies than does shearing, yet when flanging and shearing must be done simultaneously, usually the entire operation is finished in a single pass, for with the flange started the shearing dies can not retrace their original path, but must cut completely through at the first pass, so, to insure this, the dies are pressed together to the maximum extent. Besides, the shearing edges and the flanging rolls, heretofore usually unitary, must be at least a minimum distance apart, to avoid to the greatest degree possible the interference between shearing and flanging operations, already mentioned, yet the normal flange depth, or the desired flange depth, is less than such spacing between the two dies, and wastage of material, and other undesirable results, occur. Hence, while simultaneous shearing and flanging appears to advance eificiency, more careful examination demonstrates that this is not the case. On the other hand, the removal of shearing dies and the substitution of flanging dies for successive operations upon each single work piece set in the machine, or the removal of the piece after shearing, and its resetting for a subsequent flanging operation, are neither one conducive to expedition nor efficiency.

To obtain the advantages of independently performed shearing and flanging operations, yet to avoid removal and resetting of the sheetfor a subsequent operation, the present invention provides means whereby a piece once set up in the machine is first sheared to size and shape, and then, without resetting, and with only a slight adjustment in position, or in some cases without any adjustment, can be flanged by dies already located. In performing these successive operain conjunction with a companion shearing die roll, and then the same first-mentioned die roll may accomplish the flanging in conjunction with a companion flanging die roll, so that a die set of three rolls, of which one is common to the other two, performs both operations.

The machine is particularly adapted to the formation of flanged circular covers for septic tanks, or for flanging the ends of other tanks of circular section, and the like, such as must be made of fairly thick sheet material, fairly closely to size, yet which must be made inexpensively. The invention, however, is not limited only to such uses, nor to circular shapes, as will appear hereafter.

The general objects of the invention have already been indicated. In particular, it is desired to emphasize that one of the objects of the present invention is to provide means whereby resetting of the sheet, or its removal and replacement upon a different machine, or the substitution of flanging dies for shearing dies, can be avoided, so that in successive operations, the sheet can be sheared to the proper shape and size, and then, with a minimum of or no adjustment in the position of the plate or sheet, and without loss of time, it can be flanged. As a further refinement, optionally usable, by a further such slight readjustment a stiffening rib can be formed, without resetting the work.

Among other objects are to provide a machinev without adjustment on sheets of diiferent thickmess; to provide a machine which is simple and rugged and easily controllable; to provide a machine in which the shearing and flanging operations are under nice control, to the ultimate end that, the shearing operation and the flanging operations being separate, and independent operations, each can be performed as gradually, yet as precisely, as good practice requires, without compromise of operating conditions of either operation to accommodate the other operation, such as occurs when one must merge into the other; to provide hold-down means readily adapted for use independently of the rolls, but in position adjacent the operative point of the rolls; and in general to provide a machine which is well adapted to the ends already indicated.

In connection with the shearing operation, it is also an object to provide rollsso relatively arranged as to accomplish the shearing, with the axis of one thereof displaced or canted with relation to the axis of the other, so that the shearing operation can be effected most eificiently, with a minimum of folding and the maximum of pure shear, accompanied by a deflection of the sheared-off material upwardly, rather than by depression of the edge of the sheet downwardly.

It is a further object to provide a machine capable, additionally, of performing a ribbing or stifiening operation about the margin of the sheet, whenever desired, with little or no change in the machine, or in the setting therein of the work.

With these and other objects in mind, as will.

appear from a more detailed study of the present.

specification, the present invention comprises the novel machine, and the novel combination and arrangement of the operative parts thereof, as shown in the accompanying drawings, described in this specification, and as will be pointed out moreparticul'arl'y in the claims'which define the scope of 'theinvention.

' In the accompanying drawings the invention is shown embodied'in an operative form such as is at present preferred by me.

' Figure 1 is a general side'elevation of the machine, with parts broken away, the better to show the interior mechanism;

' Figures 2, 3, i and are sectional views taken on the respective 1ines 2-' 2,'3--3 4- 1, and 5-5 of Figure while "Figure G'is a similar sectional vi'ewtaken on the line6-5- of Figure 5.

Figures .7, 8 and 9 are diag'rarnn'catic Views, illustrating successive steps-in the shearing operation, and'F'ig'ures 1 0, 11, 231101712 are similar views showing successive steps'in the hanging operation.

Figure 13 is a view similar to Figures '7 to '12 inclusive, showingan optional stiffening or ribfo'rming operation, andFigure'l is a similar view or an alternative way of forming such a rib, emplaying an upper roll which difiers from that used in normal cutting and flanging.

Figure 15 is a plan viewand' Figure 16 an end elevation, somewhat'exaggeratedly illustrating the relationship of the cooperating shearing dies and their relative disposition oneto another, the lower such die being of modi-fie'd shap'el 'According'toithe presentinvention the shearing and the fiang'ing operations are accomplished as two separate, suc'cessivebperations. Two rolls or dies 'and2, the one for usem shearing, and the other for use in flang'ing, are set side by side, somewhat spaced apart, for'rot'ation about upright axes i'fl' 'a'nd 28-,respecti-vely, in a frame generaily indicated by the numeral 9. Cooperating with each'of these dies' l and 2 is athirdor upper die 3, which is al'so'in the form of a roll, rotative about an axis 331 which'lies in the same general plane defined-by the axes H3 and 20, respectively, of the dies! and 2'. The axis 30' is disposed above the u'pper'end faces of dies I and 2, and extends transversely to both these axes I0 and 20. It is" to'be noted that the cooperating dies I' and 3, in the one case, and 2 and'isiin "the other case, are not disposed upon parallel axes, as in prior machines for the same purposes, but rather upon intersecting axes, or upon axes which nearly intersect, in the case of the rolls I and 3-, as will shortly be made clear.' In addition, it is to' be noted that the dies may assume various shapes, and, in parcular, the dies or roll I or its counterpart in other figures varies. In Figure 1 this roll i's'shown with straight, sides which slopev inwardly and downwardly at a smallzreliefangle to facilitate free separation" of the sheared metal. edges.

The upper die or roll 3 is of a peripheral width sufiioient to fit between the rolls 1 and 2 at their point of closest approach, which width is usually greater than the depth of flange desired. The roll 3 has two edges 3| and 32 which cooperate with the upper edges of the respective rolls l and 2, The edge 3| of the die 3 cooperates with the upper edge l3 of the die I, and moves past the same with the end face 33 of the upper roll generally tangentially, of, the upperperipheral. edge of the roll 'I', to efiect a'shearing action upon asheet S resting upon the upper face l3 of the die I. In similar fashion the edge 32 of the upper roll 3 cooperates with the upper edge of the roll 2, and the end face 34 of the roll 3 moves in tangential relationship to the periphery of the roll 2 to effect a flanging, action on a sheet S which overlies the upper end face of the roll 2.

The upper roll 3 is mounted upon one end of a rotative shaft 35 journaled in an arm 36, which is pivotally mounted in the frame at 93 for limited swinging movement, so that the roll 3 on the swinging endtof the arm ilfimoveson a long radius into the space between the lower rolls I- and 2. The'r'oll3 is rotated by a motor 35 or in any other suitable way, while amotor l9 drives the roll I substantially directly, and, the roll 2 through the spur gears 12. All the" rolls rotate, at the same, or substantially the same, peripheral speed.

' While the shaft of the roll I isfixedly journaled in the frame 3, as indicated at H in Figure 2, the roll 2 is mounted, for some slight movement in the frame'toward's and from the roll I. Thus the journal. 2.! oi the shaft of roll, 2 is carried in, a carriage 22, which is slida'bly, guided for limited movementlaterally within the frame 9. A spring 23, reacting. from the end of the frame at 92 andadjustable asto'forice as indicated at 2'4, urges the roll. 2 towards the roll I to the limit permitted by the adjustable stop, 25, but permits separation of the roll 2 from the roll 1,- upon the encountering ofsufiicient force, The purpose ofv this is to permi't the roll" to be self-accommodating to the fianging of sheets; of difierent gauge, and to accommod'ate transient and other variations in the thickness of. the sheets during the flanging operation.

The disposition of the motor 39 and its gear box at oneiside of the pivot 93 and the roll 3'upon a long arm at the opposite side rather effectually counterbalances the arm 36,,and facilitates sensitive control, of it's tilting, and consequently of the vertical, position of the rollv 3 relative to the rolls 1' and;'2. Tilting of. the arm 36 is accomplished by any suitable means reacting between this arm and; the frame, butfas herein shown, a jack screw 45:, having a T-head 4'1 engaged in slots inthe arm 36, is threaded within a nut in the form of .a ha'ndlwheel: 4 swiveled upon a collar 4 2supportedaupon the upper arm 94, which with the: lower partfof. the frame 9 defines a lateral opening for the reception, of a plate to be sheared or fiange'd. By rotating the'hand' wheel 4 one, way'or the other the roll 3maybe moved upwardly for insertionof. a sheet S between rolls 3, and I and 2, or downwardly past. the upper edge of the cooperatingroll's or 2, to shear or to flange the'sheet.

It may be noted herezthat it is a convenient arrangementbto form theshearing edge 3| and the fian'ging edge-32, respectively, on the common roll 3', and such an arrangement requires but a minimum ofresettmg as between shearing and flanging operations upon a given sheet 5. That arrangement, however, is not, e'ssentiali to the intended operation of the device. These edges 3| and 32, respectively, might be formed upon separate rolls engaging the cooperating rolls and 2, respectively, at their points of closest approach, or, if the edges 3| and 32 are more widely spaced, they might engage the cooperating rolls I and 2, respectively, at their points of farthest spacing, one from another. In any event, the edge 3| and end face 33 with respect to the roll I, and the edge 32 and end face 34 with respect to the roll 2, are substantially tangent as they move into operative relationship, and as is shown in Figures 7 to 12, inclusive.

The objective, in shearing, is to transmit force acting purely in shear along a single pattern line upon the sheet. With cooperating rolls to effect shearing, this objective is not readily attainable. If the upper, downwardly movin roll 3 has its axis 3|! in a plane common to the axis ID of the fixedly positioned cooperating roll I, pure shear is produced, theoretically, when the edge 3| contacts the upper surface of the sheet S, for then the edge 3| is substantially tangent to the upper edge II of the roll I. Thereafter, and practically, as the roll 3 continues downwardly, and when the actual shearing is taking place, the point of shearing engagement of the edge 3| with the sheet S progresses along progressively longer chords of the edge 3| subtended by the plane defined by the edge I I, or subtended by the plane of the sheets upper surface. This displacement of the point of shearing engagement displaces it progressively from the receding curvature, as viewed in plan view, Figure 15, of the edge II. It follows that the force departs from pure shear, and produces a tendency to bend and depress the sheet, and to tear it by tensional components.

The more nearly the edge 3|, where it engages the sheet S, can be retained in engagement with the edge II, at the point of tangency, the more nearly does the progressive downward movement of the roll I result in pure shear, and the more clean-cut and accurate is the job. I have discovered that such a result can be obtained by offsetting the axis Ill from the axis 30, in one of several ways. Since another desirable result flows from canting of the axis I0 relative to the axis 30, so that the two avoid intersecting by a small amount, this is the preferred way, and this arrangement has been illustrated; see, in particular, Figures 15 and 16 where the roll I is of somewhat modified shape, having sides which for a short distance from the cutting edge are normal to the dies upper face and then break away sharply at a comparatively large relief angle. The amount of such cantin need not be great, and while it has been exaggeratedly shown in these figures, it is actually so slight (2 in a practical machine) that no attempt has been made to show it in the diagrammatic side elevations, Figures 7 to 14, inclusive. This canting or inclination of the axis I0 is, however, closely bound up with the sense of rotation of the rolls and 3, and this rotational sense must be kept in mind. The roll is not shown canted in Figure 1 because canting is slight and could not be convenient of illustration in such a small scale drawing.

With the rolls rotating as shown by the arrows in Figures 15 and 16, the sheet S is frictionally fed between the rolls in the sense also, shown by an arrow. The edge 3| first engages the sheet S at A, vertically beneath the axis 30, but this point A of engagement is on the off-feeding side of the rolls from their point A of closest approach, which in Figure 16, lies directly in line with the axis I0. But now, as the roll 3 moves downwardly, the workin point of engagement of the edge 3| with the sheet S approaches the point A, and generally coincides therewith, unless the sheet is thicker than normal. In any event, the working point of engagement lies close to the point of closest approach A of the cooperating shearing edges, because it was initially offset therefrom in a manner and in such sense as to cause it to approach, rather than to recede from, the point A of closest approach, or point of tangency, of the shearing edges during actual shearing. A cleaner, more accurate cut results, with no appreciable tendency to flange or bend, and hence to tear, the sheet.

The canting of the axis II] in the manner shown and described has the effect of offsetting this axis, at its upper end, from a vertical plane through the axis 3|]; at the upper surface I3 of the roll I, in a typical installation, there is an offset of 1%". While the general plane of the axes Ill and 20" has been referred to hereinbefore, as a convenient and approximately correct mental concept, and the axis 30 was described as disposed and movable in that general plane, it now is clear that while axes 2B and 30 lie in a common vertical plane, axis Ill does not precisely coincide therewith. Now, reverting to the offsetting of the axis III at the plane of roll surface I3, it becomes clear that such offsettin alone, without canting of that axis I0, would produce substantially similar results, except for the upward deflection of the marginal scrap E, to which reference will be made hereinafter.

While Figure 9 shows a downward depression of the sheets margin such as was referred to above, this is purely for the purpose of graphic simplicity, and in this respect is technically incorrect. It could represent true conditions, were the roll 3, in shearing, to be moved so far downwardly relative to the upper surface I3 of the die I, but this is never necessary, in shearing, for severance is accomplished by downward movement less than the thickness of the sheet. Because this is so, and because much greater downward movement of the roll 3 relative to die 2 is necessary for flanging, it illustrates why it is preferable to effect shearing and flanging as two separate operations, and why delicate control of downward movement of die 3 is desirable.

One further advantage of canting the axis Ill, thereby inclining the upper surface I3 of die I, is that the severed edge or scrap E (Figure 16) is deflected upwardly as the shearing progresses, and the margin of the cut sheet S need not be deflected downwardly. Shearin usually requires but one pass of the sheet through the dies, though several passes can be made as accurately as one, if desired, and shearing is completed by a depression of the die 3 not appreciably farther than the thickness of the sheet.

There has been no description heretofore of any means for positioning and guiding the sheet to be sheared or flanged, for the reason that such positioning means may take any one of a number of forms, or conceivably may be omitted altogether. If the sheet were to be sheared or flanged along an irregular or non-circular pattern line, the positioning means of the sheet would have to be such as would present the edge of the sheet to the shearing or fianging pairs of rolls in proper relationship to accomplish the desired operation. However, if the shearing and flanging are to be along a circular line, which is the usual case, a,

be pos "shearing is to be accomplished. The head lil' is 'nowscrew'ed down to hold the sheetfairly firmly area-a41- 7 positioning mechanism; such as is now to b'ede siiribed, will be found desirable.

Formed as an extension outwardly of the upp'er arm 94 of the frame is a guide 96, and a similar guide 95 formsan outward extension of the main frame 9 parallel to the extension 96. These ex= tensions may take the form or tubes rigidly 5e"- cured to the supporting frame parts. Upon the lower guide 95 is mounted a ca'rriage iill formed with a nut 51 in which is threaded a screw 52'ro tatable by a crank 53 or similar means. Thus the carriage 5!] may be adjusted inwardly and outwardly along the guide 95. A similar car- -i*'iage 61! is s'lidable along the guide 96, but usually it is unnecessary to provide means to accomplish its adjustment, as it may be adjusted readily by hand. The carriage 60 has a screw Gth-rea'ded therein upon a vertical axis, and swiveled upon its lower end is a centering head 6 l.

The carriage 5t! is formed with one or more c locating pins 54 slightly upstanding from "it's u'pper surface, and upon'either of thesema'y be seated a stand '55 carrying a locating pin 5 di- 'rected upwardly and receivable within a socket the lower surface of the head 61.

Preferably two locating pins 54 are provided, spaced lengthwise of the guide 95, whereon the center 55 is alternatively mounted, to permit one of the locating pins 54 to overlie frameelements inwardly of the guides 55; so that the center 5 inay be located 'at a 'sufiiciently "short distance from the rolls 1 and 2, should thedia'meter of the disk 'to be formed be less than than which can be accommodated by the outward pin 54.

To complete the description of the machine," "hold-down means, such as the rollers 'l, are obtionally employed (usually, whenever thin sheets are being sheared or flanged), located in the vicinity of the point of operative engagementas between the upper die and one, at least, of the lower dies, and these rollers'are positively pressed downwardly against the sheet, to hold thelatter are self-accommodating to the rotation of the disk, whatever may be the radius of the latter. The swiveling posts ll of the hold-down rollers '1 are both engageable by'a yoke 12, which may be acted upon by a cam 13 or the like upon a rock shaft '14, so that by throwing a control handle 15 in one'direction or the other the rollers lmay velyheld down in contact with the sheet, or may be permitted to rise under the influence of the springs 10.

In a typical operation a square sheet of width and breadth slightly in excess of the flange diameter of the intended cover is centrally bored for the reception of the locating or centeringpin The bored sheet is inserted between the extensions 95 and 95, and between'the mainframe Sand the upper arm -94 thereof, the hold-down rollers l and the head filbein'g' upraisedforeiitry of the sheet S. The sheets center holer'eceives the centeringpint, and its edge is adjustedby the screw 52 inward'lyoroutwardi withrespect to the shearing "roll 1, to bring the edge of the lattenihto'reg'istry with'the circle "about which be lowered to "rest upon thesneet. "The andby "manipulation of-the 1 adjustingriieti'ns at 4 the roll 3 may be brought downward slowly from the positionof Figure 7 to the position of Figure 8, where it contacts with the sheet S. The sheet being engaged by the periphery of the roll 3, and by the end face 13 of the roll I, both of which. maybe knurled for better contact, cominen'ces to rotate about the center 5. With the sheet thus rotating, the roll 3 is depressed'further, but only sufficiently to shear ofi'the edge E, and-the shearing is-accomplished with parts in somewhat the relationship exaggeratedly shown in Figure 9; see also Figure 16. The shearing usually requires not much more thana single revo-- lution of thesheet, after the roll 3 begins to press downwardly upon it.

The roll 3 is now raised by manipulation of the adjustment at 4, and since in the usual case the flange is of less depth than the spacing between the rolls l and 2, thedisks center at 5 is backed 'ofito-the desired degree, leaving parts in the position corresponding to-Fi-gure 10. This backing off is quickly and easily accomplished by means of the screw at 52, and the hold-down at B'can be slacked off slightly, if need be, to permit such adjustment, and then as readily restored to "clamping position in the new location. Now the downward movement of the roll 3 commences, and with the rolls 1 and 2 this time effecting rotation of the sheet or disk, the latter is broken about the upper edge of the roll 2, as in Figure IL-and with about two rotations of the sheet, and an appropriate degree of downward move inent of the roll 3, a flange is completed, as indicate'd inFigure 12. The roll 3 is now lifted, the clamp at 8 is relaxed, and the flanged sheetor *disk can now be removed. In Figures 7 to 12, inclusive, justdescribed, and also in Figures 13 'andi l the lower rolls I and 2 for convenience of illustration are both shown of simple, straight- =sided form although it is to be understood their forms may vary. From the same reason, roll -I isshown uncanted.

If a further stiffening operation is desired,it can be performed in the manner indicated by Figure 13. The flange F having been formed, the sheet "is displaced to space the flange from the roll -2, within the space between the rolls l and 2. :A second flanging operation, on a smaller radius, is begun, but since the machines controls 'are delicate, is not permitted to progress far. '-Ihe result is a marginal depression about the sheet, -as shown in Figure 13, which stiffens the sheet. A similar operation can be performed as illustrated in Figure 14, by reversing the flanged diskor cover, and by'using an upper-roll 31 which has no shearing edge, but which is otherwise substantially the sameas the roll 3. Here, it will be observed, the sheet -S is so located that its peripheral-edge 'overlies the upper face of the roll I, and the ribbing is accomplished by depressing the=material=between the rolls l and 2 iby-depressionof the roll-31. Thelatter style of 'ribbingmaytake a variety of shapes preferably --it:follows the hanging-since otherwise the setting of the sheet would-have to be changed twice, instead of once.

With particular reference tothe primary flangzing operation, it will be clear that'the fianging is 'finally'ac'complished by interengagement of the end-face 34 of the upperdie 3 and'the periphery 0f th'e lower die '2, where 'the'two are tangential oneto the other, and yet'it will be evident that th'e' wiping'action of the die 3 with :respect to th'e' die Z tends tolspin the flange to a certain-extent, and" to iron out wrinkles whichzmay tend-t0 occur, these wrinkles being progressively constricted as the flange moves into the point of tangency. The two dies 3 and 2 cooperate in the manner indicated, regardless of the thickness or gauge of the sheet, due to the fact that the:

caused by wrinkles.

I claim as my invention:

1. A machine for shearing and flanging a sheet, comprising two lower rolls, one arranged for shearing and the other for fianging, spaced apart in approximately the same plane, and rotative about generally parallel upright axes, to support a sheet with its edge overlying one or both said rolls at their points of closest approach, a third roll of peripheral width to fit between the lower rolls, rotative about an axis transversely above and generally coplanar with the axes of the two lower rolls, with one end face formed and arranged for substantially tangential cooperative shearing engagement with the periphery of the lower shearing roll, and with its other end face formed and arranged for substantially tangential cooperative flanging engagement with the periphery of the lower fianging roll, and means to effect relative approach of the upper roll and of the two lower rolls, to effect a shearing or a fianging action upon a sheet interposed therebetween, according to the operative disposition of the edge of such sheet relative to the shearing face or to the flanging face, respectively, of its upper roll.

2. A machine for shearing and fianging a sheet, comprising two lower rolls, one arranged for shearing and the other for fianging, spaced apart and rotative about generally parallel upright axes, to support a sheet with its edge overlying one or both said rolls at their points of closest approach, a third roll of peripheral width to fit between the lower rolls, rotative about an axis J transversely above and generally coplanar with the axes of the two lower rolls, with one end face formed and arranged for substantially tangential cooperative shearing engagement with the periphery of the lower shearing roll, and with its ,other end face formed and arranged for substantially tangential cooperative fianging engagement with the periphery of the lower flanging roll, and means to effect relative approach of the upper roll and of the two lower rolls, to effect a shearing or a flanging action upon a sheet interposed therebetween, according to the operative disposition of the edge of such sheet relative to the shearing face or to the flanging face, respectively, of the upper roll, the lower shearing roll having its axis canted slightly, relative to the axesof the other two rolls, to avoid intersection with the axis of the upper roll, the canting being in such direction, relative to the direction of advance of the sheet into engagement with the dies, as will deflect upwardly the sheared-off edge, in shearing, above the general plane of the sheet.

3. A machine for shearing and flanging a sheet, comprising two lower rolls, one arranged for shearing and the other for fianging, spaced apart in approximately the same plane, and rotative about generally parallel upright axes, to support a sheet with its edge overlying one or both said rolls at their points of closest approach, a third roll of peripheral width to fit between the lower rolls,1rotative about an axis transversely above and generally coplanar with the axes of the two lower rolls, with one end face formed and arranged for substantially tangential cooperative shearing engagement with the periphery of the lower shearing roll, and with its other end face formed and arranged for substantially tangential cooperative flanging engagement with the periphery of the lower fianging roll, means to eifect relative approach of the upper roll and of the two lower rolls, to effect a shearing or a flanging action upon a sheet interposed therebetween, according to the operative disposition of the edge of such sheet relative to the shearing face or to the fianging face, respectively, of the upper roll, and power means to rotate said rolls, to advance a sheet between the upper roll and one of the lower rolls.

4. A machine for shearing and flanging a sheet, comprising two lower rolls, one arranged for shearing and the other for flanging, spaced apart and rotative about generally parallel upright axes, to support a sheet with its edge overlying one or both said rolls a their points of closest approach, a third roll of peripheral width to fit between the lower rolls, rotative about an axis transversely above and generally coplanar with the axes of the two lower rolls, with one end face formed and arranged for substantially tangential cooperative shearing engagement with the periphery of the lower shearing roll, and with its other end face formed and arranged for substantially tangential cooperative flanging engagement with the periphery of the lower flanging roll, means to effect relative approach of the upper roll and of the two lower rolls, to effect a shearing or a flanging action upon a sheet interposed therebetween, according to the operative disposition of the edge of such sheet relative to the shearing face or to the flanging face, respectively, of the upper roll, and means urging the lower Hanging roll towards the fianging face of the upper roll, but yieldable in accordance with the thickness of the sheet being flanged.

5. A machine for shearing and flanging a sheet, comprising two lower rolls, one having its upper edge arranged for shearing, and the other having its upper edge arranged for flanging, said two lower rolls being held spaced apart, and each being rotative about an upright axis generally parallel to the others axis, means to support a sheet with its edge overlying one or 'both said rolls at their points of closest approach, and to guide such edge for movement in a definite path relative to either roll, means to adjust the last-mentioned means for disposition of the sheet with respect, alternatively, to the shearin roll or to the fianging roll, and a third roll of peripheral width to fit between the lower rolls, with one end face formed and arranged for substantially tangential cooperative shearing engagement with the periphery of the lower shearing roll, and with its other end face formed and arranged for substantially tangential cooperative flanging disposition relative to the periphery of the lower fianging roll, upon movement of the upper or third roll into the space between said lower rolls to effect alternatively a shearing or a flanging action in accordance with the disposition of the sheets edge by said adjusting means.

6. A sheet shearing and flanging machine comprisingtwo lower rolls spaced apart and rotative about generally parallel upright axes, a third roll of a peripheral width to fit between the two lower rolls, rotative about an axis generally coplanar .with the axes of the two lower rolls, and

transversely "above such rolls, means to support a sheet with its edge overlying one or both said lower rolls, and means to move said upper roll downwardly past the upper end surface of, and with its respective end surfaces generally tangent to the peripheries of, the two lower rolls, one end surface of the upper roll, and the complemental upper end-surface of one lower roll, being relatively formed and arranged to shear a sheet :so supported, and the second end surface of the upper roll, and thecomplemental upper end surface of the other lower roll, being relatively formed and arranged to break a flange upon a sheet so supported.

'7. A's'heet shearing and hanging machinecomprising a lower shearing roll rotative about an upright axis, a complemental upper roll having a shearing edge and end face disposed generally tangentially of the lower shearing roll, and movable downwardly past the same in shearing relationship, a flange-forming roll spaced from the lower shearing roll, and rotative about an upright axis lying in the general :p'lane defined by the first two rolls, the upper roll and the flangeforming roll being complementally formed and arranged to break a flange upon .a sheet upon downward movement of the upper roll past the periphery of the flange-forming roll, means so to move the upper roll, for shearing or for fianging,

and'means to retain a sheet in a single plane, in

surface, and of the upper roll surface, bein '00- operatively formed and arranged to shear the edge of an interposed sheet, a second upper roll surface, rotative upona transverse axis above the second lower roll, guided for movement tangentially past the periphery of the second lower roll, the edges of the second lower roll and of the latter upper roll surface being cooperatively formed and arranged to flange the edge of an interposed sheet, means to support 'a sheet in operative relationship relative to the shearing roll and roll surface or to the flan'ging roll and roll surface, respectively, and means to shift said supporting means, and a sheet so supported, from one such operative disposition to the other, to effect successive shearing andflanging operations without release or resetting of the supported sheet relative to its support.

9. Two shearing rolls arranged on axes generally transversely disposed, and for movement of one to engage its end face with and to move the same across a peripheral edge of the other, to shear an interposed sheet rested against the end face of the peripherally engaged roll, the axis of the peripherally engaged roll being ofiset, relative to the sense of rotation of the rolls, towards the off-feeding side.

10. Two cooperating shearing rolls arranged for conjoint rotation on axes generally transverse and coplanar, and for movement of one in such planeto engage'its end facetangentially'with and to move the same acrossa'peripheral edge of the other, to shear an interposed sheet, the axis of the peripherally engaged roll being canted to avoid intersection withtheaxis of the other roll,

theinclination of such canted axis. being such,

12 relative to the sense of rotation of the rolls, to locate the point of initial engagement of the tangentially disposed roll "with the sheet upon the off -feeding side of the sheet.

l1. A-sheet shearing machine comprising a first roll rotative about its axis, 'a cooperating second roll rotative about an axis which, as projected in a plane which includes the axis of the first roll, is disposed at an angle to the axis of said first roll, andwhich axis of the second roll is additionally canted in a plane transverse to the axis of the first roll, whereby the two axes approach closely but avoid intersecting, said rolls being disposed, at initiation of a shearing operation, with their shearing edges nearly mutually tangent, but spaced apart for the reception of a sheet to be sheared beneath the periphery of the first-mew tioned roll and across the end face of the secondmentioned roll, and means to effect relative approach of said rolls to depress the sheet by engagement by the periphery of the first-mentioned roll, beyond the end face of the second-mentioned roll, the canting of the latter being in a sense such as to cause the sheared-off edge of the sheet to ride up-such end face of the secondmentioned roll.

12. A sheet shearing machine comprising a first roll rotative about its axis, a cooperating second roll rotative about an axis which, as projected in a plane which includes the axis of the first roll, is disposed at an angle to-theaxis of said first roll, and which axis of the second roll is additionally canted in a plane transverse to the axis of the first roll, whereby the two axes approach closely but avoid intersecting, said rolls being disposed, at initiation of a shearing operation, with their shearing edges nearly mutually tangent, but spaced apart for the reception of a sheet to be sheared, beneath the periphery of the first-mentioned roll andacross the end face of the secondment'ioned roll, means to rotate at least one of saidrolls in a sense toadvance the engaged sheet towards the rolls, and means to effect relative approach of said rolls to depress the sheet by engagement by the periphery of the first-mentioned roll, beyond the endface of the second-mentioned roll, the canting of the latter being in a sense such as to cause the sheared-off edge of the sheet to ride up such end face of the second-mentioned roll.

13. A sheet shearing machine comprising a first roll rotative about its axis, a cooperating second roll rotative about an axis which, as projected in a plane which includes the axis of the first roll, is disposed at an angle to the axis of said first roll, and which axis of the second roll is additionally canted in a plane transverse to the axis of the first roll, whereby the two axes approach closelybut avoid intersecting, said rolls being disposed, at initiation of a shearing operation, with their shearing edges nearly mutually tangent, but spaced apart ifor the reception of a sheet to be sheared beneath the periphery of the first-mentioned roll and across the endface of the secondmentioned roll,.=power means to rotate both said rolls in a sense to advance the interposed sheet towards the rolls, and means to efiect relative approach of said rolls to depress the sheet by engagement by the periphery :of the first-mentioned roll, beyond theend face of the second-mentioned roll, the cantingof thelatter being in a sense such as to cause the sheared-01f edge of the sheet to ride up such end face of the second-mentioned roll. 7

14. vAsheet fiangingmachine comprising afirst 'roll rotative about its axis, a cooperating second roll. rotating about an axis transverse to the axis of the first roll, so that the two axes intersect in a common plane, said rolls being disposed, at initiation of a fianging operation, with their flange-forming edges nearly mutually tangent, but spaced apart for the reception of a sheet to be flanged beneath the periphery of the first such roll and across the end face of the second such roll, means to effect relative approach of said rolls, preserving spacing to accommodate the thickness of the sheet, to deflect the flange from the sheet by engagement by the periphery of the first roll, and its movement past the end face of the second roll, and spring means urging the second roll towards the first, but yieldable to accommodate variations in thickness of the sheets being flanged.

15. A machine for shearing and/ or hanging a sheet, comprising a frame to support a lower shearing roll and a lower flanging roll spaced apart upon upright axes, with their upper end faces in substantially a common plane, means to support a sheet outwardly of the rolls, with its edge overlying one or both said rolls, and for movement in a definite path relative to the latter, an upper member rotative upon an axis above, transverse to, and in a plane generally common to the axes of the two lower rolls, and cooperatively formed and disposed, relative to the lower shearing roll to shear a sheet overlying the latter, an upper member coaxial with the first-mentioned upper member, cooperatively formed and disposed, relative to the lower fianging roll, to flange a sheet overlying the latter, an arm supporting the upper members for rotation, and pivotally mounted to advance the upper members into and from operative engagement with the lower rolls, and means to adjust the sheet-supportin means, in the general plane of the sheet, to dispose its edge alternatively in operative relationship to the shearing roll or to the flanging roll.

16. A machine for shearing and/or hanging a sheet comprising a frame, means supported thereon to center a sheet for rotation about an upright axis, two rolls spaced apart and supported upon said frame for rotation about upright axes, the three axes referred to being generally in a common plane, means guiding said sheet-centering means for movement in such plane towards and from the other two axes, to dispose the sheets edge beyond one or the other roll, a third roll rotative about an axis above a sheet so disposed, and lying transversely of and in the same general plane as the axes of the two lower rolls, said upper or third rollbeing of a peripheral width to fit between the two lower rolls, and formed and arranged for cooperative action with one lower roll to shear an interposed sheet, and for cooperative action with the second lower roll to flange an interposed sheet, and means controllable to move said upper roll downwardly into shearing relationship, and into flangin relationship, with the respective lower rolls.

1'7, A machine for shearing and/ or flanging a sheet comprising a frame, means supported thereon to center a sheet for rotation about an upright axis, two rolls spaced apart and supported upon said frame for rotation about upright axes, the three axes referred to being generally in a common plane, means guiding said sheet-centering means for movement in such plane towards and from the other two axes, to dispose the sheets edge beyond one or the other roll, a third roll rotative about an axis above a sheet so disposed,

1'4 and lying transversely of and in the same general plane as the axes of the two lower rolls, said upper or third roll being of a peripheral width to fit between the two lower rolls, and formed and arranged for cooperative action with one lower roll to shear an interposed sheet, and for cooperative action with the second lower roll to flange an interposed sheet, an arm wherein said upper roll is journaled, pivot means at the end of said arm distant from said upper roll to support the same for swinging, and means reacting between the frame and said arm, under control, for moving said roll downwardly into shearing or fianging relationship, as the case may be, with the respective lower rolls.

18. A machine for shearing and for flanging a sheet comprising a, frame having a laterally open U-shape, means supported thereon towards the outer end of the U to center such a sheet for rotation about an upright axis, two rolls spaced apart and journaled in said frame, inwardly of and upon axes generally in a plane common to the sheets rotative axis, means guiding and controlling said sheet-centering means for movement in such plane towards and from the other two axes, to vary the disposition of the sheets edge relative to each of the two rolls, a rotative shaft pivotally supported from said frame to swing in the aforesaid plane, above said rolls, a third roll upon the swinging end of said shaft, of a size and so located to fit between the two lower rolls, and formed and arranged relative to each of the latter to shear a sheet interposed between itself and one of the lower rolls, or to flange such a sheet interposed between itself and the second lower roll, means to eifect and control swinging of the shaft to such ends, power means to drive each roll, and means urging the lower flanging roll towards the cooperating end face of the upper roll, but yieldable in accordance with the thickness of the sheet being flanged,

19. A machine for shearing and/or flanging a sheet, comprising a frame to support a lower shearing roll and a lower flanging roll spaced apart upon upright axes, with their upper end faces in a common plane, means to support a sheet outwardly of the rolls, with its edge overlying one or both said rolls, and for movement in a definite path relative to the latter, an upper member rotative upon an axis above, transverse to, and in a plane generally common to the axes of the two lower rolls, and cooperatively formed and disposed, relative to the lower shearing roll to shear a sheet overlying the latter, an upper member coaxial with the first-mentioned upper member, cooperatively formed and disposed, relative to the lower flanging roll, to flange a sheet overlying the latter, an arm supporting the upper members for rotation, and pivotally mounted to advance the upper members into and from operative engagement with the lower rolls, means to adjust the sheet-supporting means, in the general plane of the sheet, to dispose its edge alternatively in operative relationship to the shearing roll or to the hanging roll, and hold-down means yieldably engaging the upper surface of the sheet in the vicinity of the point of engagement of an upper member with its cooperating lower roll.

20. Shearing and flanging apparatus comprising lower shearing and hanging rolls rotatable about upright axes and spaced apart with their upper end faces in approximately the same horizontal plane, a coacting upper roll common to said shearing and hanging rolls rotatable about a transverse axis included in the approximate plane of the axes of rotation of said shearing and fianging rolls, a pivotal support for said upper roll located at a point remote from said shearing and flanging rolls and in the vicinity of the plane of their upper faces, for swinging vertically to move said upper roll downwardly into working engageinent with said shearing and fianging rolls, the axis of rotation of the upper roll being inclined upwardly in the direction of said pivotal support away from said shearing and flanging rolls, said shearing roll being located intermediate to said fianging roll and pivotal support, and means to support a work sheet for rotation by conjoint action of the rolls, about an axis located substantially directly opposite to the pcintfof said pivotal Support, from said rolls;

21. The shearing and flanging apparatus as defined in claim in which the shearing roll is nearer the pivotal support than the flang-ing roll,

and the upper common roll has a shearing edge at its end face nearest the pivotal support for coaction with the peripheral edge of the shearing roll in tangential relation thereto, and a reentrant annular groove whose sides extend in wardly from its side face and end face remote from said pivotal support, complementarily with the working edge of the fianging rolls periphery.

22. The shearing and flanging apparatus as defined in claim 20, in which the upper common roll is of generally frusto conical shape tapering towards its end face which is remote from the pivotal support, with its end face nearest said support being beveled toform a peripheral cutting edge inclined with respect to the rolls axis and approximately parallelto the peripheral edge of the shearing roll when in overlapping relation thereto, and with its opposite end face recessed peripherally to form a reentrant peripheral groove of a'reentrant angle conforming substantially to the upper corner angle of the flanging roll.

23. Shearing and hanging apparatus as defined in claim 20, in which the axis of "the shearing roll is canted at a small angle with respect to the plane of a work sheet supported substan tially flatly on the upper end face of the flanging roll beneath the upper common roll, and in such direction with respect to the direction or rotation of said rolls that the point of closest approach of the shearing roll and the upper roll closely approaches the general plane of the axes of the several rolls during cutting; so that the scrap material cut from the sheet is deflected'upwardly.

24:. Shearing and flang'i'ng roll mechanism for operating upon metal plates,-'comprising a lower shearing roll rotatable about an upright axis and adapted to support a work sheet upon its upper,

end face, a flanging roll separated laterally. from said shearing roll and rotatable about an upright axis approximately parallel with the axis of said shearing roll, andwith its upper end face approximately in the plane of the upper end face of "said shearing roll, a coacting single shearing and flanging roll having one end face cooperable with said shearing roll, and its opposite end face formed reentrantly annularly, cooperable with said flanging roll, said coacting single shearing and fianging roll being rotatable about an axis inclined upwardly from said flanging roll in the direction of said shearing roll, the rotation axis of all three rolls being approximately in the same plane, the single roll being supported for pivoting about a horizontal axis located remotely from said shearing and flanging rolls on the side 01 said shearing roll, means to drive at least one of said rolls rotatably, and means to depress said coacting single roll downwardly intothe space between said shearing and'flanging roll to shear or to flange sheet material placed thereon.v

. 25. Flanging apparatus comprising a lower flanging roll rotatable about an upright I axis, means to support a blank to be flanged substantially in the plane of the upper face of said flan e ing roll, a coacting upper flanging roll cooperable with the upper peripheral edge of said first fianging roll on the side opposite said blank supporting means, said cooperable flanging roll be; ing supported pivotally for vertical swinging about an axis remote from said first flanging roll and located in the vicinity of the plane thereof on the side of-said cooperable flanging roll, means to support said upper roll for self-rotation about 'an inclined axis contained substantially in its plane of swing and sloping upwardly in the di rection of said pivotal support away from said first flanging roll, said cooperable flanging roll being irusto-conical in shape and having an nular reentrant groove in its end face nearest the flanging roll formed to register in parallel relation with the adjacent peripheral corner faces of said first flanging roll, with a flanged work blank interposed between; v p, 26. The flanging apparatus as defined in claim 25, in which the cooperable flanging roll of frusto-conical shape has a cone angle which is approximately twice the angle of incline of its self-rotation axis with such roll in its initial engaging position with said first flanging roll.

HORACE R. HARBORD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the idle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 740,730 'Zeh Oct. 6, 1903 1,105,668 Lange et a1 Aug. 4, 1914 1,360,450 Scott Nov. 30, 1920 1,383,618 Gray July 5, 1921 1,775,864 Olson Sept. 16, 1930 1,907,664 Preston et a1 May 9, 1933 2,031,604 Ingels Feb. 25; 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 6,826 Germany 1878 

